Matt Ross: Quick Bite: Puljujarvi + Luci

First.

Oilers fan here.

Puljujarvi is big, fast, talented playmaker, solid 2 way, and has a good shot.

He was dominating the men's Fin league and international tourneys at age 17.

He was used to big European ice and being utilized as a top 6 offensive forward.

In Edmonton he was used as a third/fourth line 2 way winger. Was rarely used in an offensive role. Had no PP time and rarely got to play with McDavid or Leon.

Had a nagging injury that coincided with declining play as last year went on but had successful double hip surgery to remove bone spurs I believe.

He was sorely mishandled in every possible way. Thus why he demanded a trade.

I think there is an eventual 30/30 two way winger in Jessie Puljujärvi. He just turned 21.

I think it's more likely he goes to Europe and plays his whole career there. Edmonton knows his value and have no intention of moving him for cents on the dollar.

I'd do it if Edmonton took back Carter and also included a 2nd round pick.

To LA
Lucic
Puljujarvi
2nd round pick

To EDM
Carter
6th round pick

tkecanuck341...
That is actually a very reasonable deal, Jesse is still growing ( manchild) but I believe there is an upside to him.. Lets make the deal..

First.

Oilers fan here.

Puljujarvi is big, fast, talented playmaker, solid 2 way, and has a good shot.

He was dominating the men's Fin league and international tourneys at age 17.

He was used to big European ice and being utilized as a top 6 offensive forward.

In Edmonton he was used as a third/fourth line 2 way winger. Was rarely used in an offensive role. Had no PP time and rarely got to play with McDavid or Leon.

Had a nagging injury that coincided with declining play as last year went on but had successful double hip surgery to remove bone spurs I believe.

He was sorely mishandled in every possible way. Thus why he demanded a trade.

I think there is an eventual 30/30 two way winger in Jessie Puljujärvi. He just turned 21.

I think it's more likely he goes to Europe and plays his whole career there. Edmonton knows his value and have no intention of moving him for cents on the dollar.
- Aerchon

Awesome insight, Aerchon! Thanks for chiming in with this.

I'd do it if Edmonton took back Carter and also included a 2nd round pick.

To LA
Lucic
Puljujarvi
2nd round pick

To EDM
Carter
6th round pick
- tkecanuck341

I think Carter has one less year and almost a million less than Lucic. I feel like you’re able to realistically move Carter now or at the TDL.

Do you do this deal being OK with the idea that you’ll have Lucic and his contract (with no money retained by EDM), if it means you’re getting Pul and the 2nd?

I guess...do you think the positives (Pul and 2nd) outweigh the negatives (Lucic play/contract)?

Kings probably won't make the playoffs for another 2-3 years at least. I'd take Puj and the pick. Lucic won't be on the books when they'll be in a position to contend again.

@the proposal

I'd do it if you allowed Bear and a 4th in place of the 2nd.

Pujujarvi great young player somewhat mishandled but not just by the oilers. Seems his agent doesn't feel he should play in ahl and should be given top minutes while making mistakes at nhl level. Oilers hands tied. Lucic you guys already know game has passed him by when he left L.A and was a misguided sign by chairelli thinking he was getting lucic when he was 21.
Soooo I'd say doughty for the pair should be a fair deal...

I'd do it if Edmonton took back Carter and also included a 2nd round pick.

To LA
Lucic
Puljujarvi
2nd round pick

To EDM
Carter
6th round pick
- tkecanuck341

I'd totally be okay with this.

I think Carter has one less year and almost a million less than Lucic. I feel like you’re able to realistically move Carter now or at the TDL.

Do you do this deal being OK with the idea that you’ll have Lucic and his contract (with no money retained by EDM), if it means you’re getting Pul and the 2nd?

I guess...do you think the positives (Pul and 2nd) outweigh the negatives (Lucic play/contract)?
- Matt.Ross

I think Lucic is terrible because he plays on Edmonton. He had success playing in LA, and think he could again under the right circumstances. Carter just came off a terrible season, and could likewise return to form. I think the differences in their salaries (~$725k) plus the one extra year at $6m is fairly compensated with Puljujarvi and a 2nd.

However, I would make one of the conditions for bringing on Lucic is that he needs to void his NMC for the remainder of the contract. He'll obviously need to waive it to accept the trade to LA. If he doesn't agree to that, then no deal.

@the proposal

I'd do it if you allowed Bear and a 4th in place of the 2nd.
- MaximumBone

No thanks. I'll stick with the 2nd.

I think Lucic is terrible because he plays on Edmonton. He had success playing in LA, and think he could again under the right circumstances. Carter just came off a terrible season, and could likewise return to form. I think the differences in their salaries (~$725k) plus the one extra year at $6m is fairly compensated with Puljujarvi and a 2nd.

However, I would make one of the conditions for bringing on Lucic is that he needs to void his NMC for the remainder of the contract. He'll obviously need to waive it to accept the trade to LA. If he doesn't agree to that, then no deal.
- tkecanuck341

Not to mention Lucic is 3 years younger than Carter, if that amounts to any significance.

Also, I definitely think Lucic would waive his NMC to move to LA. He has had success there in the past and he knows the area. IMO, he'd only waive his NMC for Vancouver or LA.

No thanks. I'll stick with the 2nd.
- tkecanuck341

As I expected.

Nonetheless, I'd totally be okay with such a deal. It's a fair one for both sides.

No thanks. I'll stick with the 2nd.
- tkecanuck341

I'll require a condition on the 2nd then. If we make the playoffs, it's all yours. If not, then it's the 2021 2nd.

I'll require a condition on the 2nd then. If we make the playoffs, it's all yours. If not, then it's the 2021 2nd.
- MaximumBone

I was actually going to suggest a condition that if Edmonton made the playoffs and Carter scored 20+ goals then the 2nd would get upgraded to a 1st, but decided to leave it off. Don't think I'd accept a negative condition.

Lucic misses LA very much. His wife misses it even more. She can’t stand Edmonton.

The Kings should not hire anyone else. They’ve already spent too much this year. You’re a great blogger, though, Matt.

This is a very reasonable offer and I would do it in 2 seconds. Nothing against Carter but the Kings need a change in culture bad. I don't know if Carter was a good or bad egg in the locker room but I can't imagine Lucic would be a good egg as he's at the end of his career and does he really want to lose the last 2-3 seasons of it without acting out?

Earl

I would keep Carter but how about the following trade:

To Edmonton:
Johnny Quick - $5.8M cap hit for 4 years

To LA
Puljujarvi (1st round - 4th overall draft pick in 2016)
Lucic - $6M cap hit for 4 years

We solve multiple problems
1. We get a good young talent with upside
2. We fix our goal tending log jam
3. No change to our cap hit as both are the same amount and term
4. Win for Edm as they get (when healthy) a legitimate #1 goalie and shed the Lucic contract.
5. We bury Lucic in the bottom 6 and by the time we are back to contention his contract will almost be up.

I should be the assistant GM. Move over Rob.

I would keep Carter but how about the following trade:

To Edmonton:
Johnny Quick - $5.8M cap hit for 4 years

To LA
Puljujarvi (1st round - 4th overall draft pick in 2016)
Lucic - $6M cap hit for 4 years

We solve multiple problems
1. We get a good young talent with upside
2. We fix our goal tending log jam
3. No change to our cap hit as both are the same amount and term
4. Win for Edm as they get (when healthy) a legitimate #1 goalie and shed the Lucic contract.
5. We bury Lucic in the bottom 6 and by the time we are back to contention his contract will almost be up.

I should be the assistant GM. Move over Rob.
- KingsFan67

I wouldn't do that. The 2nd round pick (which will likely be in the top 40 because Edmonton sucks) is pretty much the main reason to do the deal.

Lucic is a really bitter bill. Even with retention, he doesn't suit the style of play that Blake wants. Also, having him taking a spot from a prospect for 4 years sounds like the opposite of Blake's plan.

Puljujarvi for Toffoli seems like a more agreeable deal to me. Toffoli might fetch a 1st at the deadline, so getting a former 1st now that they don't have to wait 3 years to develop would be useful to LA. Edmonton could put Toffoli with McDavid or Draisaitl and, when he invariably has a career year, either extend him or trade him at the deadline, themselves, for a nice haul. It seems to me like a safe gamble for both teams.

Lucic for Carter is a near wash. Both have bad contracts, Lucic makes 700k more for 1 extra year and produces a little less offensively but still contributes physically and has 0 injury history. Carter is 3 years older, has been declining for 2 years now, and has somewhat of an injury history. Im sorry but Puj is worth more than the difference between those two. To then include a 2nd from Edmonton's end and only have a 6th returned is extremely laughable. Switch the picks and its looking more realistic.

Remember Puj is a RFA, he has no rights in this discussion and his trade demand is moot. He can sign a fair deal with the Oilers while they explore trade options, or go play in Europe and hope to increase his value while Edmonton continues to explore options.

Some other insite on Jesse, he was brought over with practically 0 knowledge of english, and it appeared early on that he didnt have much interest in learning it. Has the upside of a good 2nd linerwith some role on a PP unit. Shouldnt be burried in the bottom 6 as the Oilers continued to do. If he would be willing to sign a 2 year deal he would benefit with a full season in the AHL and being given a chance to earn a top 6 role next training camp. But its sounding like his agent has convinced him otherwise and they believe he should be handed a top 6 role somewhere this year.

Awesome discussion, guys. A lot of good thoughts and proposals here.

I guess when you think about it, you’re just swapping Carter’s big contract for Lucic’s, which is slightly bigger/longer (that’s what she said).

The benefit of doing that is getting Pul and the 2nd, obviously. Something I had overlooked, that a number of folks pointed out, is that the Kings probably won’t be in a real stable place for another three to four years. By that time, Lucic’s contract would be coming to an end.

So, I’d be down for this fan-made trade of Pul and a sweetener in the form of a 2nd.

If they’re to make a deal, the Kings have to move a current roster guy (or two) IMO. With everything Blake has said about the youth movement, giving up picks and prospects to EDM would be counterintuitive. Not to mention Looch would theroretically be taking the spot of a kid and possibly hindering development.

Wish we knew what the proposals were. Would love to see them.

The Kings should not hire anyone else. They’ve already spent too much this year. You’re a great blogger, though, Matt.
- Ersberg

Thanks, man